The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah was merely reading out a speech prepared by the government, charged an opposition leader.

"The (text of the) Agong's speech is (prepared) by the government,” said DAP Gelang Patah parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang.

The DAP veteran leader was asked to comment on the Agong's opening address at this year's Parliament session.

The Agong urged parliamentarians to stop politicking for the gain of narrow interest, saying that he wanted them to appreciate their differing views instead of toppling and slandering each other.

His Majesty also said he wanted the continuation of the current administration to realise the goal of making Malaysia a high-income nation.

In 2013, former opposition leader had courted flak when he also suggested that the federal government had used the Agong's speech to get the people to accept the last general election results.

Responding to this, Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan conceded that while the government indeed had a hand in preparing the speech, the Agong could still change the content if he disagreed with it.

Abdul Rahman used the relationship between himself as a minister and his press secretary who prepares his speeches to illustrate the relationship between the Agong and the federal government.

However, constitutional expert Abdul Aziz Bari begged to differ.

Although Aziz said that a constitutional monarch might change the text of his speech prepared by the government if it does not involve major policies that may put him in an embarrassing situation, he pointed out that the analogy of Abdul Rahman was wrong.

He also claimed that there is nothing wrong with Malaysians criticising the Agong's speech.

"As in any Westminster system, such a speech is essentially the government's speech and policy, even though it is read out by the monarch. As such, the criticism is neither disrespectful nor seditious," he added.

Meanwhile, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah also disagreed with the royal speech.

"We are a political party; we have to play politics until the end of our life. We are politicians, not NGOs," Mohamad Sabu told a Pakatan Harapan press conference at Parliament House.

Wan Azizah, who is also the opposition leader, said it was not the opposition who tarnished the country's image.